Cyclone Ilsa can be seen swirling in a southwestward direction well off Australia's northwestern coast on Thursday.
An area of disturbed weather between Java and Australia's northwestern coast collected into Cyclone Ilsa on Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds near the storm's center were predicted to increase to near 100 mph (160 km/h) by late Friday as Ilsa spun gradually southwestward over open waters of the eastern Indian Ocean.
Forecasters at the U.S. military Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicted that Ilsa would be a threat to only shipping lanes before beginning to lose force late in the weekend.
Cyclone Ilsa Track
Satellite Loop Data: CIMSS